1. Call Brown’s Arctic Air: Each central air conditioning unit should be inspected, cleaned and tuned. A professional tune-up typically costs between $70 and $125.
2. Keep the filter clean: Clean and replace the air conditioner filter frequently (check the filter once a month). This is especially important during the summer when dust and allergens circulate. If the filter becomes clogged, your system will have to work harder to supply the same amount of cool air.
3. Made in the shade: Air conditioners with proper shading can be more efficient. Air in a shaded space is cooler than the surrounding air, meaning the A/C will have an easier time cooling the air.
4. Don’t take the heat: Don’t place lamps, TV sets, or other heat producing appliances near your thermostat. The thermostat senses the heat causing the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
5. Dial for dollars: Remember that each degree you dial below 78 increases your energy consumption by about 8 percent. If your monthly electric bill is about $100, you’ll save $8 a month with EACH degree you can stand above 78.
6. Set and go: If it’s hard to remember to tweak your thermostat before you leave for work, consider investing in a programmable thermostat or a timer for your window unit.
7. Time to replace? You may find your old air conditioner is no longer efficient. Consider replacing your unit with an energy-efficient model. They’re usually more expensive but thanks to federal tax credits and competitive prices, the prices are falling, and because they use less energy, you save in the long-run, too. When replacing your A/C, look for a properly sized unit. If you install a unit that is too large, it will cycle on and off – reducing the efficiency of the system.
8. Don’t cool the whole neighborhood: Seal air leaks with caulking and weather-stripping. Add insulation around air conditioning ducts.
9. Feel the breeze: If your home has ceiling fans, switch your ceiling fan to run counterclockwise in the summer. That will push the cool air down. You can run a ceiling fan half the day for about $1.50 a month, compared to $25 for an air conditioner.
10. Watch the pavement: Avoid landscaping with lots of rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home. If it’s not shaded it will increase the temperature around the house and radiate heat.
11. Free from debris: Keep plants, shrubs, and other landscaping about two to four feet away from your outdoor unit to ensure adequate airflow.
12. Install window film: A great home improvement idea is to install home window film or tint to the insides of your windows. Not only can it help keep your house cooler in the summer, but also warmer in the winter.

The air filter’s job is to keep dust and debris out of your HVAC equipment. You’d be amazed how much builds up on there in a very short time.

Recently, AC filters have gotten a lot of attention due to the pandemic. With the uncertainty about airborne transmission of the virus, some experts are recommending the use of higher-efficiency filters to trap virus particles.

When your AC filter gets clogged, dust and dirt start getting into the air conditioner itself, causing wear and tear on the parts. You probably know what that means: the more wear and tear on the parts, the sooner they wear out and you’re dealing with a breakdown. The clogged filter also prevents enough air from flowing through the system to keep it working properly.

It’s helpful to know when to change your air conditioner filter. According to Energy Star, you should check and change the AC filter every month during peak season. That’s probably more often than you want to call your trusty HVAC service guy. We love to see you, of course, but this is a job that you can probably handle on your own if you choose to do so. It’s helpful if you know how to change the AC filter yourself.

How to change the AC filter: LOCATE THE FILTER

AC air filter replacement is a quick and easy task. Before you can do it, though, you need to know where the AC filter is located. That can be the tricky part, because there are several places it could be.

In some systems, the filters are located in the return air duct. This is the one that pulls air from your space back into the air conditioner’s air handler system. If you have a large system with multiple air handlers and return ducts, finding the filters can be a challenge.

If both your heating and air conditioning systems share the same ducts, it’s also possible that the air filter for both systems is located in or near the blower system for the furnace. If so, it’s usually in the front of the furnace near the bottom. You may be able to see and access the filter without opening anything, or you might have to open a metal panel (marked FILTER) on the front or the top of the blower. The panel may be attached with hooks or screws.

Your best bet is to ask your HVAC service tech. Just let him know that you want to learn how to change the AC filter, and he’ll be able to show you where the filter is located, how to remove the old one and insert the new one, and how to get the right filters for your system.

Step up your HVAC maintenance

If, by any chance you don’t have a regular HVAC service tech to ask about how to change an AC filter, it’s likely that you’ve been neglecting other important maintenance tasks besides changing AC filters. Regular maintenance keeps your equipment in top working condition so the parts last longer and work more efficiently. That means the system uses less electricity, needs fewer costly repairs, and has an extended life span.

Give Brown’s Arctic Air a Call today and we will be glad to help! 352-728-4990

Most people expect their air conditioners to make some noise when it’s running. But if a buzzing kind of sound persists even after your air conditioning shuts off, it might be because a component isn’t working properly. Whether it’s a faulty motor or an erratic electrical connection, it’s worth looking into. Otherwise, your air conditioner might stop working altogether.

Contacting a professional technician is the best idea when your air conditioner is making noise, since they can quickly determine the source and start repairs. In the meantime, here’s some useful info about why your air conditioner might be noisy.

First, Find Where the Sound is Coming From

Tracing the sound back to its source can help the technician find out the possible causes. Your central air conditioning system consists of two units. The outdoor unit vents the heat collected from your home and cools it down with the refrigerant. This cooler air is sent to the indoor air handler, which ensures the conditioned air is sent into the ductwork. If the noise you’re hearing isn’t coming from either of these units, the problem can be somewhere inside the ductwork itself.

If the sound is coming from the indoor unit: When noise is coming from the indoor unit, it can often be because there’s something wrong with the blower motor. A faulty electrical connection could cause the motor to produce a buzzing sound regardless of if the air conditioner is running.

Sometimes, however, the noise comes from your condensate pump. This component helps drain excess moisture away from the rest of the AC system. It may continue to run after a cooling cycle is over if there’s still moisture that needs to be taken care of.

If the sound is coming from the outdoor unit: Just like the indoor unit, the outdoor unit possesses a fan and motor. But instead of sending cool air into your ductwork, this fan is used to dissipate the heat collected from indoors. A bad connection could produce a similar buzzing sound, and since it’s outdoors, it might be a while before you notice it.

The outdoor unit also houses the relay switch, an important component for controlling the voltage that enters the system. When this part makes a sound, it might have failed and will have to be replaced.

There’s always a chance that a screw has rattled loose or a piece of debris has gotten stuck somewhere inside the system. This can happen to both the indoor and outdoor unit, and will make a variety of noises depending on where the object is lodged. If this is the source of the irritating sound, you shouldn’t hear it for much longer after the AC shuts off. To make noise in the first place, it’d need to be close enough to something that could cause it to rattle against the unit housing.

These Noises Are Most Often Because of an Electrical Problem

You may have noticed that a lot of the possible causes of this unusual noise have something to do with electrical components or the connections themselves. Since most components won’t work without power, a malfunctioning electrical part is the most likely reason you’ll hear something even when the air conditioner is off. After your technician has found where the sound is coming from, they’ll probably start checking components such as the relay switch and compressor, as well as all connections.

Even if you’ve found the source of your problem and think it’s a simple fix, it’s best to let a licensed and insured professional resolve electrical problems.

Leave Electrical Problems to the Pros

If your air conditioner’s electrical system is malfunctioning or damaged, calling a professional is the right move. There are several reasons why:

• Electrical problems can be hazardous: Service technicians have the training, licenses and insurance for safe and effective resolutions to electrical malfunctions.
• Improper repairs can end up doing more damage: Even if you think your DIY skills handled the problem, it may have ended up doing more harm than good. Air conditioning systems are still complex machinery, after all.
• Pros can spot other problems: Technicians with years of experience are more likely to recognize when something else is plaguing your HVAC system. They can handle it right there instead of letting the issue spread or worsen.

Other Common AC Noises

Getting familiar with a few other noises that could come from your air conditioner is a great idea. The next time something is wrong, you may be able to recognize it quicker and call for professional service. A few other unusual noises include:

1. Trickling or Hissing: A leak is the most common culprit. Air leaks are inefficient but can be simple to resolve. If the coolant is leaking, however, that may spell big trouble. Components related to the refrigerant supply are expensive to fix and may end up resulting in having to replace the air conditioner entirely.
2. Clicking or Ticking: When functioning normally, you’ll hear clicks as electrical components start up and direct the air conditioning to run. When there’s an electrical problem, these clicking sounds can happen at random.
3. Clanging or Rattling: These sounds are likely because of a loose screw or a piece of debris. But sometimes it’s a piece of a more important component such as the compressor. The compressor is airtight, so if something breaks off inside it, you may be stuck with an unpleasant rattle until it’s fixed.
4. If something doesn’t sound right, don’t wait to see if it goes away on its own. The faster a professional technician can start repairs, the quicker things can be resolved. You’ll appreciate a quieter air conditioner and efficient cooling.

Request an appointment with the HVAC pros at Brown’s Arctic Air today by giving us a call at 352-728-4990.

Joyful Summer Solstice! Sure, we all know we’re nonetheless a day away from marking the start of the summers within the northern hemisphere. June 21 marks the day of summer season solstice 2021, the onset of the summer season season!

Call Brown’s Arctic Air, Inc. for all your air conditioner service needs. 352-728-4990

With the warm weather on the horizon, it’s important to begin considering the health of your HVAC system. You likely haven’t considered the health of your air conditioning unit since the end of last summer, but now it is once again time to consider how well your unit is functioning for a summer of fun ahead.

Change the Filter – First and foremost, you should change the filter of your air conditioning unit. Although it seems simple, this is one of the most important measures that you can take to reduce the need for AC repair. Filters should be replaced on a regular basis to help circulate fresh, clean air throughout your home. If you need assistance finding the right filter for your system or if you’re due to order a new one, our team at Brown’s Arctic Air is happy to help!

Clean the Condensation Lines – There is a pipe in your AC unit that carries condensation away from your unit that can easily get clogged. In the case that there is blockage, your unit itself will become backed up. This can quickly snowball into a serious problem resulting in the need for immediate AC repair . Of course, if you need help locating this pipe, please call our team.

Remove Surrounding Debris – Your unit needs to be clear of built-up debris in order for it to run at peak performance. Take a quick look at your unit and make sure there are not any surrounding plants, leaves, branches or long grass that have the potential of getting in the way of your unit’s airflow. We also recommend cutting the grass before turning on your unit. Ideally, you will check back on the unit itself at least once per month to make sure that new debris hasn’t accumulated.

Contact Our Team at Brown’s Arctic Air. Our team at Brown’s Arctic Air highly recommends regular HVAC maintenance to avoid the need for AC repair at the most inopportune times. We are happy to look over your system before the weather gets warmer! Please get in touch with us today. 352-728-4990

Brown’s Arctic Air, Inc. highly recommends Taking Care of Business (TCB) Air Duct Cleaning, John Dixon, (352) 867-9949

Air Duct Cleaning is the Removal of the Build Up Of Dust and Dander in A Homes Ventilation System. This Air Circulates and Re-circulates around and around the inside of the home which is the air you and your family are breathing.

The Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning: Less Sneezing, Fewer Allergies, Less Dusting, and Doctor Recommended

Remember to Check Your Air Filter on a Regular Basis and Change it According to the Manufacturers Recommendations.